Abstract [en]

Research questions: How can a public organization work more effective with retention of competence in the competition for human resources with other organizations?

Purpose: The purpose with this study is to clarify why employees choose to work within their unit in Västerås Stad through an organisational perspective. The study lays the foundation for Västerås Stad to develop an understanding for how the units and managers can continue to work more proactive with their retention of employees and how this in turn can attract future employees or in some cases reintroduce lost competence.

Method: A qualitative research was done through a case study on two units in Västerås Stad. The preparatory work for this research was created through books and scientific articles for this research area. The empirical data has been gathered through personal semi-structured interviews expect one telephone interview due to a lack of time for personal interview in the respondent’s schedule.

Conclusion: To work effectively to retain employees and competence in a public organization there must be prerequisites for personal commitment (PC). PC can be divided into 5 parts that is split up into intrinsic motivations: Public Service Motivation (PSM), Development possibilities, Supervisor Support and external factors: Work Environment and Rewards. The extrinsic factors are the basis for satisfaction in the work place and when met the intrinsic motivation will increase and as a result the personal commitment will also increase. The employees value intrinsic motivation and as a public organization they have the advantage to work with PSM as a part of their retention strategy, with strength in community benefit as a part of the employees’ roles. Expectations when hired creates motivation and an inability to fulfil them creates a risk of resignation. If the organization can create an environment that enables re-retention, employees that have resigned could be attracted back to the organization and add valuable insight in new ways of working and satisfying their need for personal development.